A Barbadian family business, with big dreams to penetrate the international markets, is fast becoming a reality for The Green Monkey Chocolatier luxury brand.
Wendy and Samira Abed have taken the island by storm (or chocolate) setting the gold standard for gourmet chocolates, luxurious macarons, artisanal jam and single origin teas among other specialty items.
Bringing a wealth of knowledge from her training as a Master and PhD in Chocolate, Wendy has qualified at bespoke chocolate houses such as l’Ecole du Grand Chocolat, Valrhona, Tain l’Hermitage, France; ICAM, Lecco, Italy as well as extensive training in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago with Barry Callebaut under some of the greatest European Chocolate Masters.
Samira graduated from the renowned Queens School of Business in Canada and joined the company in 2016 as Head of Brand Strategy to oversee packaging design, retail/product expansion and international/export opportunities. This mother daughter team have succeeded in opening the minds of local Barbadians to learn about what makes real chocolate worth the money and effort, and why does a fresh macaron take 3 days to mature with their specialty recipe modified for our tropical climate. They have created a luxury lifestyle experience for Bajans and tourists alike. From the minute you open the door to their stores, you are transported to a special time and place in a beautiful architecturally designed space showcasing the products. The customer is met by the warm smiling face of their highly educated staff members who have undertaken an internship at the factory to ensure they are knowledgeable about all of the products.
Once the treats have been enjoyed, you are left with packaging too special to be thrown away. This is truly a whole brand experience created by Bajans right here at home. Their commitment to quality, perfection and extensive background research shows in each and every one of their products. Their growth plans are lofty indeed. With new products coming out every few months like the Prosecco/Mulled Wine frozen pops and single origin Himalayan teas. This ‘little company that could’ showcases the potential of Barbados and their ability to manufacture and compete at world standards.
The next step for Green Monkey is to open in Trinidad and then look to the oversea markets that have a close relationship with Barbados. The company motto is “Do It With Passion, Or Not At All” speaks to the company ethos and you can feel it in every interaction with this amazing team.
http://thegreenmonkeychocolatier.com
Leave a Reply